Chance, Order, and Intelligence

When Charles Darwin presented his theory of evolution to the world in 1859, he pulled the rug out from under all theories of creation, thereby exposing himself to fierce hostility. People of that era found it particularly difficult to grasp the idea that God's inexhaustible creative power could be replaced by mere chance.Yet that was not the case; rather, Darwin had uncovered a mechanism that harnesses the creativity of chance - taming it and channeling it into constructive paths, much like the way nuclear power is controlled during nuclear fission.As we know today, it is a remarkably powerful mechanism. Thanks to its versatility, it plays a pivotal role in other areas of life as well, frequently giving rise to phenomena we associate with the vague concept of intelligence. This inevitably raises the question: might the as-yet-unexplained core mechanisms of animal (and thus human) behavior also be rooted in an evolutionary process?This book explores that question, guiding the reader along a path that leads from the fundamental characteristics of life -through the mysteries of heredity, immune systems, and nervous systems- to intelligent superorganisms. Those willing to follow this path to the end will gain insights that are as fascinating as they are unsettling.